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A Candle is a Raging Fire!

by chris portka

/

about

How's everybody doing tonight?

I've been playing music since I was about 14 and I'm excited to release my proper debut at 37 (3 + 7 = 10 ... 1 + 0 = 1 ... 1 + 4 = 5!). I wrote this song last year while traveling through India with my fiancé on a trip for her textile / fashion business Seek Collective (pre-COVID times this was). At that time, I also wrote and recorded the music to a series of documentary videos she made while in India (this instrumental music was released as my EP "Soundtracks I").

But, unlike those instrumental tracks, this song is more personal and reflects the long, multi-decade struggle I've had with music. I've always loved guitar, piano, writing songs, and jamming with friends - but my biggest fear in the world was always singing. It's been the major roadblock to releasing and playing music throughout my life. So 6 years ago I got serious and met a great Voice Movement Therapist, Julia Norton, who slowly helped me use my voice and sing in front of people. That's a long way of saying the lyrics of the song are about the hope, dream, and wish I've held for a life in music. Maybe it also reflects all the secret desires we hold in our hearts for what we truly want in this life.

Listen on your favorite streaming service:
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chrisportka/a-candle-is-a-raging-fire

See the music video!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiBVd_3OShU

My website:
cportka.com

I also played this song for West Coast Songwriters in January 2020 and won second place for their monthly competition in the Bay Area. See the solo acoustic live performance here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiBVd_3OShU

"Soundtracks I" on your favorite streaming service:
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chrisportka/soundtracks-i

lyrics

I hold a candle in my heart
I'm so tired, should I snuff it out
I doubt it but perhaps I can accept it for what it is
A candle is not a raging fire

Let me sing let me breathe
I don't want to hurt anyone or thing
I still yearn for the childhood desire
A candle as a raging fire

A candle as a raging fire
A candle as a raging fire
But a candle is not a raging fire
A candle is merely a fire

I've felt warm days of a golden sun
And days I doubted a new day could come
The angel of the lord dancing on the moon
With darkness and cold and impending doom

I see a figure in the night
As the candles plays with the shadows and light
As if never there it turns around and disappears
A candle's not a raging fire

This world is just a taste
The other side has a lake
Not of fresh water but burning with fire
As an endless raging fire

By the lake stands a tree
And the tree holds a door
For a fire to roll and clear the forest floor

Whether you believe or not
It's unknown what has been wrought
May the grace of the divine lift my soul higher
As a candle as a raging fire

A candle is a raging fire
A candle is a raging fire
A candle is a raging fire
A candle is a raging fire

credits

released October 1, 2020
The song was mixed by Jasper Leach of @jplrecordings (on Instagram) who also played the organ, tambourine, and some backup vocals.

I played, wrote, and composed the rest of the music.

The song was mastered by Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios.

JPLRecordings:
www.instagram.com/jplrecordings/

Abbey Road Studios:
www.abbeyroad.com

Cover design by: Carol Miltimore

license

all rights reserved

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about

chris portka Oakland, California

i'm chris portka. i write, perform, and produce music. i also play live shows. good luck with everything.

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